Campaign looks to lure FIFO workers to Wide Bay

A new marketing campaign is being launched to encourage mine workers from Gladstone and the Surat, Bowen and Gallilee basins to live in the Wide Bay.

Paul Massingham from Regional Development Australia says research has shown many workers would like to move away from expensive areas like Mackay, Moranbah and Emerald.

He says fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) bases could be set up at the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay airports, if workers show an interest.

"We've been in pretty in-depth negotiations with the mining and energy companies over the past nine months, especially about some of their new operations that will be opening over the next six to 12 months," he said.

"The whole campaign of course we've market tested with a pretty diverse range of the workers themselves and the interest has been phenomenal."

He says there has to be proven demand for the plan to work.

"The primary focus of the marketing campaign is to really target all of the existing workers who work in the resources sector, whether it be mines or energy sector, and get them to register their details with us to help us in our negotiations to set up direct flights," he said.